The President of the Irish Pharmacy Union has stated that, as of Friday afternoon, 87% of pharmacies had enrolled in the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) programme, reports RTE.
Tom Murray said he expected additional pharmacies to join over the weekend and into the coming week, with full participation anticipated in time.
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is used to relieve symptoms of menopause by supplementing hormones, and can also aid in managing associated health conditions, reports RTE.
Pharmacies were scheduled to begin offering free HRT to women starting 1 June, following an agreement reached last month with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
The IPU backed the initiative after the Government agreed to several measures, including reassessing how pharmacies are reimbursed, reports RTE.
Mr Murray noted that pharmacists have consistently supported women’s health and are eager to enhance access to healthcare for women.
In an interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that earlier concerns which discouraged pharmacies from joining the programme had now been addressed, reports RTE.
He expressed his appreciation to the Minister for Health for pushing the initiative forward and ensuring the treatment would be free of charge.
Mr Murray encouraged women without a medical card to register for the drug payment scheme to access the medication, and recommended that those seeking further information speak with their pharmacist, reports RTE.
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